Sudan to Feel Might of Oliech And Mariga in LG Cup On Saturday

Charles Nyende

24 June 2011

Nairobi — Kenya have included their big guns. Are you guys scared?” a local journalist had the temerity to ask the Sudan captain, Mohammed Tahir, on Friday in reference to Saturday’s LG Cup clash between the two nations at Nyayo National Stadium.

Perhaps Tahir was taken aback by the question.

Sudan are, after all, higher up in the Fifa ranking than Kenya and he needed to carefully compose his riposte. Or perhaps Tahir did not understand English.

Either way, the visitors’ skipper spoke slowly and cautiously in Arabic through his English-speaking coach Mohamed Abdullah: “We know Harambee Stars are coming with their big stars.

It will be a challenge

“We are mostly young players; it will be a good opportunity for us to test ourselves.

It will be a challenge.”Up till then, at the well-attended press conference no one had taken notice of Tahir.

Most attention was grabbed by Inter Milan midfielder McDonald Mariga with admirers stumbling over each other for a photo opportunity and a chance to greet Kenya’s most famous and highest paid footballer.

Mariga, typical of his laid-back, painfully private nature, declined to comment on why he had made himself available for the non-Fifa-calendar fixture and in the middle of the European recess period.

The much he offered was: “It is important to feature in this match as it forms preparations for our next (Africa Cup of Nations) qualifiers. As for me playing the game, ask the coach.”

Kenya coach Zedekiah “Zico” Otieno expressed delight in having his big guns Mariga, Dennis Oliech and Patrick Oboya available for the low-profile friendly.

“They are a very important part of the team” Otieno said.

“When they agreed to play in the team I was very happy. They add depth to the team and also bring some level of confidence. “It is also very important for our preparations. They are part of my team for the qualifiers.”

Both teams have let it become known that this fixture forms part of the qualifiers. Kenya have their sights on Guinea Bissau while Sudan target Congo in September.

Kenya are fielding a near full-strength side and Tahir will indeed find it a big challenge for the young Sudan side whose squad is composed mainly of their Under-23 Olympic Games qualifier side.

The two sides have shared almost an equal number of wins playing each other over the years, Kenya on nine and Sudan on eight with four draws.

But Otieno, who holds a perfect home record, said fans should expect to see an aggressive Harambee Stars intent on settling for nothing less than victory.

On a good day Oliech is a real menace but he has gone through 360 minutes of Nations Cup qualifying football over the past two years without a goal.

Should he be in the right physical frame then his hunger to break this drought will be key in Kenya’s quest for victory.Oboya, who formed a useful partnership with Oliech late last decade before losing favour in the 2012 campaign, will want to rekindle the association as he tries to cement his position in the team.

Never gone beyond two goals

The rejuvenated Titus Mulama is the key man in midfield together with Kevin Ochieng, who has rediscovered his form of 2008 that made him one of Kenya’s hottest prospect.

The solid Pascal Ochieng and Anthony Kimani should form the bulwark in defence while the safe hands of Boniface Oluoch will guard goal.

Apart from July 4, 1965 when Sudan hammered Kenya 4-2 in their inaugural meeting, matches between the two neighbours have never gone beyond two goals scored per side. Today’s may be another close encounter.

Left-back John Njoroge has been recalled to boost the Stars’ rearguard and to replace South Africa-based Dennis Odhiambo who had earlier been drafted to fill in for the departed James Situma.

According to Harambee Stars management, Odhiambo, of Pretoria University, had to abruptly return to South Africa after he got a call from his agent over an imminent move to the Premier Soccer League, South Africa’s top football league.

“We understand he is going finalize a deal to play for Platinum Stars,” Stars team manager Edward Oduor said on Thursday. Otieno said: “When I learnt that Dennis (Odhiambo) was in the country I promptly invited him to join us after Situma left for Europe. Now that he (Odhiambo) has left I have had to call Njoroge.”

Njoroge was a regular starter for Harambee Stars in 2008 but disappeared to the periphery following a move to Yanga of Tanzania and will be keen to regain favoured status.

Otieno said he was looking to win and build a momentum ahead of Kenya’s next African Cup of Nations qualifier against Guinea Bissau on September 3.

Situma is expected to sign a contract with Albania side Tirana.

Stars camp was buoyed by the presence of the Europe-based players who have made themselves available for this non Fifa calendar friendly.

“They are a very important part of the team. When they agreed to play in the team I was very delighted. They add depth to the team and also bring some level of confidence.

It is also very important for our preparations. They are part of my team for the qualifiers,” Otieno said.

Otieno finally had a chance to train his full side yesterday following the arrival of Anthony Kimani (Mathare), Titus Mulama (Sofapaka), John Baraza (Sofapaka) and Bob Mugalia (Sofapaka) from club duty.

Otieno said Kenya should expect to see an aggressive Harambee Stars on Saturday intent on settling for nothing less than victory.Kenya have beaten Sudan seven times and lost 10 times with four drawn outcomes in their previous encounters.

Sudan are lowly ranked in the world by Fifa at 104 but Kenya are even lower at 123.

Recent head-to-head form

January 5, 2011 – Kenya 1 Sudan 0

December 31, 2008 – Kenya 0 Sudan 0

December 25, 2004 – Kenya 1 Sudan 2

December 12, 2004 – Kenya 2 Sudan 2

December 10, 2003 – Kenya 2 Sudan 1

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